WW2 Royal Navy Photograph Album with many Action Station shots.

Discussion in 'The War at Sea' started by Smudger Jnr, Feb 16, 2011.

  1. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    A friend of mine whose father served as a leading Seaman on H.M.S. Warspite during the war, today showed me his fathers wartime photographs, many taken onboard the Warspite.

    The Photo album has never left his possession except for one occasion, when it was loaned to an author writing a book about the Warspite and some photographs I am told were used as illustrations.

    Other than that these photographs have never been in the public domain and my friend agreed that I could put them on the forum for all to see.

    I am sure that most will agree that this is a good collection of action shots taken at a time when all was not going well for Britain and her Allies.

    I was not able to scan the album but took photographs and hope that this does not detract from the historic nature of the originals.

    The family are from the Shetland Islands and many relatives and friends who worked in the fishing industry volunteered for the Royal Navy or Merchant navy and many never returned.

    Regards
    Tom
     

    Attached Files:

    dbf, nicks and Jedburgh22 like this.
  2. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Some great photos there Tom, please thank your friend for allowing you to post them.
     
  3. RJL

    RJL Senior Member

    Tom. That is fantastic. I can only echo what Mike said, please thank your friend for allowing them to be shown.
     
  4. nicks

    nicks Very Senior Member

    Tom

    Please pass on my thanks to your friend for allowing you to post the photos.
     
  5. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Drew5233 likes this.
  6. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Tom, super to see these. Please pass on thanks also for your friend's generousity. Much appreciated.
     
  7. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I initially didn't bother having a look as I thought they would be a link to a site about the ship - I'm really glad my curiousity got the better of me. Thanks for posting them Tom and thanks to your friend to allow you to do it.

    Andy
     
  8. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    Terrific

    The labels in the family album and notes in the picture borders make them even better.

    Thanks,

    Dave
     
  9. cally

    cally Picture Prince.

    Very interesting photos Tom.

    [Would loved to have seen them scanned as large as possible!!]
     
  10. skyhawk

    skyhawk Senior Member

    Amazing collection. Thanks for sharing.
     
  11. James S

    James S Very Senior Member

    Tom thank you these are fantastic to see, my thanks to your friend for being so generous. :) :) :)
     
  12. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    During this mornings Tea and biscuits at the RBL Berlin Branch my friend Tom (The owner of the Album) showed me a signed copy of the book "Warspite" by Iain Ballantyne and part of a series I believe of Warships of the Royal Navy.

    ISBN 085052 779-1

    Leo Cooper
    Pen and Sword. 2001

    I am now looking to obtain a copy.

    Warspite: Amazon.de: Iain Ballantyne: Englische Bücher

    12,27 euro :)

    Regards
    Tom
     
  13. cash_13

    cash_13 Senior Member

    Thank you Tom what and amazing collection of photographs....

    It makes me sad to see the picture of Warspite taking that direct hit to my stepfathers engine room and knowing he lost so many friends whom he subsequently had to bury at sea....

    Abide with me..... RIP Leading Stoker Cyril Claude Phillips...
     
  14. RemeDesertRat

    RemeDesertRat Very Senior Member

    did the photo album album belong to an official photographer?
    The reason I ask is that pic 14 and the first pic on 15 are exactly the same as published in East of Malta West of Suez, the admiralty account of the war in the Med 1939 - 1941, the pics are of the Italian Artagliere sinking, 11th Oct 1940.
     
  15. RemeDesertRat

    RemeDesertRat Very Senior Member

    forgot to add pics :rolleyes: seems the book mis-spelt the Destroyers name wiki has it as Artigliere
     

    Attached Files:

  16. cally

    cally Picture Prince.

    Artigliere is the correct spelling.
     
  17. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    did the photo album album belong to an official photographer?
    The reason I ask is that pic 14 and the first pic on 15 are exactly the same as published in East of Malta West of Suez, the admiralty account of the war in the Med 1939 - 1941, the pics are of the Italian Artagliere sinking, 11th Oct 1940.

    The Photo album was passed down from father to son.

    The father was a Leading seaman on the Warspite and the photographs were his own collection and several that were gifted to him during the war.

    Several photos ended up being used in the book previously mentioned about the Warspite.

    I have come across names misspelled or totally wrong before in Albums, so it is not unusual to find mistakes.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  18. RemeDesertRat

    RemeDesertRat Very Senior Member

     

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